Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Championship match.
Queens Park Rangers have already halted a couple of league leaders. Can they prevail at Loftus Road against Middlesbrough, who have just suffered a heavy defeat?
Queens Park Rangers
On one hand, Queens Park Rangers are struggling, sitting second to last and winless in ten consecutive matches. On the other hand, they haven't lost in their last three games, securing draws. Impressively, the last two stalemates were against Championship leaders Burnley and Sunderland, and they managed to keep clean sheets in both. Burnley missed frequently, managing only four shots on target, while Sunderland's performance dropped significantly after having a player sent off in the 50th minute.
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough were as unfortunate in the 13th round as Sunderland; they saw a player sent off in the 22nd minute against Coventry City after a second yellow card. The game unravelled for them, resulting in a 3:0 loss. Despite this, Middlesbrough generated almost a goal (0.92 xG). Their issue mirrored their opponents'—shot accuracy, as they hit the woodwork once from nine attempts.
Queens Park Rangers vs Middlesbrough Prediction
Despite the goalless outcomes in recent matches, we won't assert this will be a low-scoring affair. After all, Middlesbrough participated in a goal fest against Norwich City just a couple of rounds ago (3:3). They are more than capable of challenging Queens Park Rangers, but it's better to opt for a safer bet in case of a narrow defeat for the hosts.
